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(Ho M odeL) O. HYMERS.

SELF ADJUSTING FISH-SHAPED FISH HOOK HOLDER. No. 273,996.

Patented Mar. 13,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

CHRISTOPHER HYMERS, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

SELF-ADJUSTING FISH-SHAPED FISH-HOOK HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,996, dated March13., 1883.

' Application filed May 16, 1882. (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern Be it known that LCHRIsToPHER HYMERS, ofthe city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Self-Adjusting Fish-Shaped Fish-HookHolders, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

This invention is in some respects an improvement on the inventiondescribed in my patent dated 4th January, 1881, theliook being heldbetween similar expandingjaws. There is, however, in addition, asafety-hook that may be used to prevent the opening of thejaws by theimpingement of the lishshead against the hook when used in trolling. Thejaws in this improvement are pushed into their conical socket and heldtherein by a spiral spring in place of a cam, as before. A spoon isprovided, having its body slit transversely and the slit portions bentout in opposite directions to form bands, adapting the spoon to heslipped on and off the bait without disturbing the hook.

1n the drawings, Figure l is a side view with the spoon attached, thespoon being shown in edge view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of thedevice with the spoon, removed, and also the swivel, the device being inthe form for ordinary rod-fishing. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section at 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holding-jaws. Fig. 5 is atrans, verse section at 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig, 6 is an edge view of thespoon. Fig. 7 is a. vertical section of the spoon on the line 7 7, Fig.5.

A is the fishing-line. This line, in Fig. 1,

is attached to the eye B, at the upper end of the swivel U. r y I D isthe lowerloop of the swivel, engaging the eye E at the upper end of thebail E. The bail E has two inturned hooks, which enter holes in the side10f the metal fish F, extending into a plug, G, inserted in an axialbore, H, that extends from end to end of the fish, but which at thelower end is made of conical form to force the gripping-jaws inward, asin my patent before mentioned.

I l are the gripping-jaws, engaging the stem of the fish-hook K andforced together by the conical form of the socket H as they descendtherein. L is a link or hanger that is shown as composed of a singlepiece of wire bent at the top and its two legs extending down in thebore H, to the lower end of the same, Where one of the gripping-jaws isattached to or made in one piece with each leg. The bent end of the linkis secured in the knob M, so that when the knob is drawn upward the jawsI are drawn upward with it and spring outward from each 6o other,releasing the hook K.

N is a block or collarrcsting on. shoulders of the link L. V O is aspiral spring surrounding the link, whose ends bear against the block Nand the plug G. The springthus acts to forcethejaws I downward intotheir socket H. The legs of the link work freely through the plug G, theplug being held in place by the interned ends of the bail E. r

' P is a hook secured loosely to thelink above the block N, and whoseend passes through theeye of the fish-hook, as shown, to prevent thedisengagement of the hook fronrthe jaws by theblow of a fishs headagainstit when troll- 75 S is the spoon, which is formedto slip over themetal fish lrom the tail end, having its central part bent out intobands 8, that. bear upon the fish F.

To release the hook from the jaws l the knob M is drawn upward, whichdraws the jaws from the tapering socket H and allows them to separateand release the hook.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination of the gripping-jaws I,link L, knob M, and spring 0, forcing thejaws into a tapering socket ofthe metal fish F.

2. The combination of the parts I, L, M", 0, and fish F of thesafety-hook P, substantially 0 as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The spoon S, having bands 8, adapted to be applied to fish-hook bodyF, asset forth.

CHRISTOPHER ,HYMERS.

Witnesses SAML. KNIGHT, AUGUST WEBER.

